Now You Can Have Great Coffee Anywhere On Your Travels With The Outin Nano Portable Self-Heating Espresso Machine

Weighing like a loaf of bread less than 700g, you can take Outin Espresso Machine anywhere for espresso with its travel-sized shape. With just one tap, you can start brewing your golden ratio coffee with a bottle-sized Outin at home or outdoors. It is TSA approved, so now it is even possible to get a good cup of coffee on a plane. It is also never a good idea to order coffee or ice on a plane because of the poor quality of the water.

Light Weight: Weighted Less than 700 g

Fast Heating: Only 200 seconds* to Heat Up

Rich Crema: Up to 92°C/198°F through 20 Bars Pressure with Richer Crema Coffee

Long Battery Life: 7500 mAh Battery for 5 times* Cold Water / 200+ Hot Water Brews
Pro-level Standards: European Certified Materials & Coffee Brewing Center Standards

Universal Charging: in 12V or 24V Car Charger and USB Charger( >10W)

2 in 1 Coffee Method: Feature with Ground Coffee and Coffee Capsules

For more details and how to order, please visit: https://outin.com/

Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada's Summer Tourism Season

Severe wildfire seasons are increasingly hurting western Canada's lucrative tourism industry, with some visitors beginning to avoid the busy late-summer months due to concerns about uncontrolled blazes, smoke-filled skies and road closures.

After a scorching start to July, nearly 600 wildfires are now ablaze across British Columbia and Alberta, including a huge fire that this week devastated the picturesque tourist town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.

Dozens of communities, including popular holiday spots in British Columbia's Kootenay region, are under evacuation orders and several highways are closed.

This year's surge in wildfire activity comes after Canada endured its worst-ever year for wildfires in 2023, when more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) burned, including parts of the city of West Kelowna in the heart of British Columbia's wine region.

Ellen Walker-Matthews, head of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the industry was seeing a lot more last-minute travel decisions instead of booking in advance.

"It's a huge blow. July and August are traditionally the busiest months in the region," said Walker-Matthews, adding that while her region has been relatively unscathed by wildfires this summer, some visitors are choosing to avoid interior British Columbia altogether.

The members of the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association are reporting a 5-15% drop in bookings from a year ago, with the biggest declines coming from the hotter Okanagan and Cariboo regions, said Joss Penny, who heads the association.

"The concern is that this is something we have to live with and we have it every year now," said Penny.

Although wildfires in Canada's forests are natural and common, scientists say drier, hotter conditions fuelled by climate change are leading to more volatile and frequent blazes.

'SMOKEY SKIES'

Some events, like the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, usually held in August, have now been rescheduled to earlier in the summer to avoid what is now seen as peak smoke season. The festival, which was cancelled last year due to nearby wildfires, was this year moved to July to benefit from "less smokey skies."

Wildfires and extreme climatic events are prompting tourists to "change their plans not just temporarily, but permanently," said Elizabeth Halpenny, a tourism researcher and professor at the University of Alberta, noting that seasonal workers in the sector are often the hardest hit as they have few protections during a bad season or amid a cataclysmic fire.

Tourism contributed C$7.2 billion to the British Columbia economy in 2022, and C$9.9 billion to Alberta in 2023, according to the latest government data.

Jasper National Park is one of Canada's premier tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors a year flocking to see its pristine mountain landscapes and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose and elk. Kelly Torrens, vice-president of product at international tour company Kensington Tours, described western Canada as a bucket-list destination. But the company now has 49 trips that were supposed to pass through Jasper this season in limbo. Six others were forced to evacuate the park when the fire hit.

Parks Canada has cancelled all camping reservations within Jasper National Park until Aug. 6 and with potentially 50% of the town's structures destroyed by fire, the cleanup and rebuild could take years. Halpenny is among those hedging their bets.

"I've booked a campsite stay in the mountain parks but at the same time, I booked a campsite out on the prairie somewhere and that's my backup plan because I don't want to miss out on my vacation with my family."

Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; Editing by Sandra Maler, Reuters

Venice Officials Defend Day-Tripper Tax, But Delay The Decision On Extending It

Venice city officials said Friday that the day-tripper tax netted 2.4 million euros ($2.6 million) during a test phase this summer, and that decisions on how to proceed would be made in the fall after a full analysis of the data.

According to the city, the 5-euro tax was paid 485,062 times over the 29 test days, mostly weekends and holidays, from April 25 to July 14. The final numbers included paper access tickets sold to bus tours, cruise ships and some tour operators, accounting for about 1,000 entrances on each of the test days.

Italians accounted for 60% of visitors to the ticket website in the period, followed by U.S., German and French citizens, ranging from 6.5% to 4% of the totals.

City officials have indicated that the system, where day-trippers pay an entrance fee, would be extended next year, and doubled to 10 euros, at least on some days, but did not make any immediate announcements.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said that the city would consider adjusting the fee based on if the tax is paid in advance, or at the last minute. He defended the tourist tax from critics, who called it a failure for allegedly not deterring arrivals, as envisioned.

“We listened to citizens, to associations, to thousands of people, but in the end, there were no alternative solutions to ours,” Brugnaro said. “We thought to take this road of the controls, which were light enough, not invasive.”

Visitors not staying in lodging in the city were required to download a QR code showing they had paid the tax; officials said that the average length of the transaction was 2 minutes. Hotel guests, who pay a lodging tax, were exempt, as were people living in the Veneto region, visitors under 14, and those visiting relatives, among others.

Venice has long been grappling with overtourism, with estimates of 25 million to 30 million annual arrivals of both day-trippers and overnight guests roughly confirmed by cell phone data tracked from a Smart Control Room since 2020, according to city officials.

The day-tripper tax, delayed by the pandemic, was heralded by UNESCO member states when they decided against a recommendation to place the city on its list of world heritage sites in danger. The city had escaped inclusion on the list two years earlier when it imposed a cruise ship ban down the Giudecca canal and through St. Mark’s Basin.

The city’s top tourist official, Simone Venturini, said the entrance fee marked “a cultural revolution.”

“For the first time in the world, a city has an instrument that allows to finally have clear data, and not just approximate estimates, not longer interpretations of data, but exact data” of people entering and leaving the city,’’ he said.

BY COLLEEN BARRY

Olympic Fans Can Eat, Drink And Cheer In A Mini World’s Fair In Paris Park

Sip a cool caipirinha cocktail in Brazil. Sample a spicy samosa in India. Boogie down with a DJ in France ‘til the early hours. Or, do all three in a day — and perhaps meet some athletes, too.

If you’re in Paris but don’t have tickets for the Olympics, organizers want you to know that you can spend your days — and boozy nights, too — at the Parc des Nations, or Nations Park, which is hosting 15 festive national team clubhouses in what amounts to a mini-World’s Fair on the edge of Paris.

The project gives a temporary new name to Parc de la Villette, a sprawling 135-acre (55-hectare) space in the northeastern corner of the capital. It opens Saturday, once Friday’s ambitious opening ceremony on the Seine River is over, along with its enormous security demands.

Imagine one huge, multicultural fan zone. The idea is for visitors to connect with each other, with Olympic athletes (who will come for medal celebrations) and with the Games themselves, organizers said.

“The slogan of these Olympics is ‘Games Wide Open,’ and we wanted to bring that to life,” said Amelie Guignabert of Paris 2024, the Olympic organizing committee. “We really believe in it.”

All they need, she noted, is the fans — and officials are advertising in the Paris Metro and elsewhere.

Certainly, there is room for them. The biggest house is not surprisingly, Club France, where there is capacity for 5,000 to 6,000 people inside and 20,000 in the outside spaces, which include two huge fields.
Other team clubhouses are Casa Brazil, Canada Team House, Casa Colombia, Czech House, India House, Casa Mexico, Team NL (Netherlands) House, Mongolia House, Serbian House, Slovak House, Slovenian House, Chinese Taipei Pavilion, Volia Space (Ukraine) and Ekhaya South Africa.
Inside Club France is a large stage, where athletes will appear after winning medals and where nightly music events will be offered, including sets from DJs like Bob Sinclar, said Arnaud Courtier, executive director of Club France.

“We like to party,” he said.

Fans can pay 5 euros ($5.42) and stay as long as they like, watching Olympic competitions on a giant screen and athlete interviews, cheering medal winners and buying food and drink. Or, they can buy a package that could run up to 385 euros ($418) for an all-night open bar and a prime spot on the stage.

Outside are some 20 makeshift pavilions designed by architecture students that house various French sports federations. Among other activities, visitors will be able to learn from coaches and try their hand at sports.

The project started with a decision to put Club France at La Villette, said Sophie-Justine Lieber, the park’s general director. Then, countries that didn’t have clubs elsewhere decided to join in.

The park, with its many structures, was able to accommodate particular needs — for example, Slovenia and the Czech Republic wanted places with kitchens to emphasize their national cuisines, and Mongolia wanted outdoor space to erect yurts, the traditional circular dwellings.

As for beach volleyball? That’s an attraction at Brazil’s house, along with music like samba and funk. And, of course, the national cocktail, caipirinha, as well as pao de queijo, the Brazilian cheese bread.

Organizers at India’s pavilion announced it was the country’s first house at an Olympics, a step toward their dream of bringing the Games one day to India.

India House spares no effort to highlight the country’s rich culture — it has brought in a huge loom, for example, where artisans are weaving traditional saris and carpets. Among many exhibits, one wall displays Gond art from the state of Madhya Pradesh, along with photos of every Indian athlete competing this year.

A key face among them: javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, a star in India who has 9 million Instagram followers.

There will be Indian food, of course — samosas, spiced chai tea, savory dhokla and more. Bollywood music will play, and fans will be able to try yoga and cricket.

Organizer B. Srinivasan, greeting the media Tuesday evening, declared these Games a perfect moment to introduce a new India and pointed to the many notables India has exported to the world – including political figures with Indian heritage like Rishi Sunak, the former British prime minister. And, in the most timely of references, Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president who is now running for the top job after President Joe Biden ended his campaign for a second term.

BY JOCELYN NOVECK

New Luxury European River Cruise Line Recognized As A World's Best Only After One Year In Service

In only one year's time in service, Riverside Luxury Cruises has been recognized with Travel + Leisure's prestigious World's Best Awards. Riverside takes its place among the top 10 best river cruise lines in the magazine's 29th edition of the highly anticipated annual readers survey, which highlights the best travel destinations and organizations across the globe. The 2024 Travel + Leisure® World's Best Awards is featured in the August issue, now on newsstands or online at https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best-awards-2024-8666520. For more information about Riverside Luxury Cruises and to make a reservation, U.S. and Canadian travellers should contact their travel advisor; visit Riverside-Cruises.com/en; or call 1-833-305-3313. Travel Advisors can register and book their luxury clients through the brand's dedicated partner portal at www.Riverside-Cruises.com/TA.

"We are delighted to be recognized by Travel + Leisure's readers, and it is particularly gratifying to be named among the World's Best Awards after only being in service for one year," said Jen Halboth, CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises. "We have always aimed for excellence and this award honours the exceptional staff and crew aboard Riverside's three most luxurious river ships, as well as our management. We thank readers for cruising with us and appreciate our valued travel advisor partners for recommending Riverside Luxury Cruises."

Travellers can still reserve a luxurious all-inclusive, European river cruise with Riverside Luxury Cruises. Early booking savings of up to 25 percent is available for 2025 voyages and the line is offering no single supplements for select suites on nearly all sailings. Riverside's 2024 and 2025 voyages are currently open for booking.

Riverside Luxury Cruises is Europe's newest and most luxurious river cruise line offering distinctive vacations on the Rhine, Rhône, Danube, Moselle, and Main rivers. The all-suites Riverside Mozart, Riverside Ravel, and newly inaugurated Riverside Debussy offer the most spacious accommodations, highest staff-to-guest ratio, and more onboard amenities than other river lines. On all itineraries, the ships stay late or overnight in some of Europe's most captivating towns and cities, so guests can immerse in authentic cultures and the destination's social life. Throughout, every member of Riverside's exceptional staff and crew deliver intuitive and personalised service for an all-inclusive and luxurious experience.

On board, guests enjoy butler service in every suite; gourmet cuisine made with high-quality, fresh ingredients a la minute; included premium wines and spirits; complimentary StarLink broadband Wi-Fi; unlimited shore excursions to immerse in Europe's history, cultures and landmarks; prepaid gratuities; and complimentary ground transfers. Riverside Luxury Cruises is a winner in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for 2024 and Cruise Critic's 2023 Editors' Pick Award for Best Dining in the River Category.

SOURCE Riverside Luxury Cruises

Singapore Recrowned Most Powerful Passport In The World

Singapore breaks away from the peloton of six countries that shared the top spot on the Henley Passport Index as we entered the new year, reclaiming its title as the world's most powerful passport in the latest ranking published today. The city-state also sets a new record score, with its citizens now enjoying access to 195 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain drop to joint-2nd place, each with visa-free access to 192 destinations, and an unprecedented seven-nation cohort, each with access to 191 destinations without a prior visa — Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden — now sit in 3rd place on the ranking, which is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The UK hangs onto 4th place along with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, despite its visa-free destination score falling to 190. The US, on the other hand, continues its now decade-long slide down the index, dropping to 8th spot, with access to just 186 destinations visa-free. Former passport powerhouses, the UK and the US jointly held 1st place on the index 10 years ago in 2014. Afghanistan remains firmly entrenched as the world's weakest passport with access to only 26 countries visa-free — the lowest score ever recorded in history of the 19-year-old index.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, says: "The global average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been, with top-ranked Singapore able to access a record-breaking 169 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan."

According to IATA, airlines will connect nearly 5 billion people over 22,000 routes on 39 million flights in 2024 but its Director General, Willie Walsh, says the margins are incredibly tight: "The aviation industry expects revenues of almost USD 1 trillion this year but expenses will also be at a record high of USD 936 billion. Net profit will be USD 30.5 billion. This translates to a modest net margin of around 3%, making the profit per passenger just USD 6.14 — barely enough for a single espresso in a typical hotel café. Despite this, the real cost of air travel has fallen 34% over the last decade."

Climbers, fallers and elections

The UAE makes it into the Top 10 for the first time, having added an impressive 152 destinations since the index's inception in 2006 to achieve its current visa-free score of 185, making it the biggest climber by rising a remarkable 53 places from 62nd to 9th position. The biggest faller over the last decade is Venezuela, which has plunged 17 places from 25th to 42nd. The country is due to hold decisive presidential elections on 28 July that could change the fate of more than seven million Venezuelans who have fled their country over the last ten years.

Commenting in the July 2024 edition of the Henley Global Mobility Report, published today alongside the latest passport ranking, former career diplomat with the U.S. State Department and a senior non-resident associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Annie Pforzheimer, says business groups in immigration- and tourism-dependent industries in America are extremely concerned about the upcoming US election: "Their major worries relate to measures likely to be imposed under a second Trump administration, including ending the Temporary Protected Status regime, rolling back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, and consequent mass deportations for up to 1 million people now eligible for those programs."

Africa tops the list of EU visa rejections

In exclusive new research published in today's report, Prof. Mehari Taddele Maru, Adjunct Professor at the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute, and Johns Hopkins University in Italy, compares Schengen visa rejection rates for African applicants to those from other regions. The results show that around 3 in 10 or 30% of African Schengen visa applicants were rejected, compared to 1 in 10 applicants worldwide, despite the continent having the lowest number of visa applications per capita. He also found evidence that the poorer the African country of origin, the higher the rejection rate for its nationals:

"Despite justifications based on apparent security or economic concerns, the European visa system clearly demonstrates a pre-determined bias against African applicants who face a triple whammy: lower passport power, higher visa rejection rates, and consequently, limited economic mobility. In short, the poorest individuals face the greatest difficulties when seeking to travel or move to more prosperous countries."

Travelore News: Southwest Breaks With 50-Year Tradition And Will Assign Seats

Southwest Airlines plans to drop its tradition of more than 50 years and start assigning seats and selling premium seating for customers who want more legroom.

The airline said Thursday that it has been studying seating options and is making the changes because passenger preferences have shifted. The moves could also generate revenue and boost financial performance.

Southwest made the announcement on the same day that both it and American Airlines reported a steep drop in second-quarter profit despite higher revenue.

Airlines are struggling with higher costs and reduced pricing power, especially on flights within the United States, as the industry adds flights faster than the growth in travel demand.

Southwest, based in Dallas, said its second-quarter profit fell 46% from a year earlier, to $367 million, as higher costs for labor, fuel and other expenses outstripped an increase in revenue. The results met Wall Street expectations.

American Airlines also reported a 46% drop in profit, to $717 million, and said it would break even in the third quarter — well below Wall Street expectations of 48 cents per share profit in the July-through-September period.

American “did not perform to our initial expectations” because of a since-abandoned sales strategy and an oversupply of domestic flights, CEO Robert Isom said. He said the airline was responding with a strategy that boosts profits and “makes it easy for customers to do business with American.”

Southwest’s unusual boarding process started decades ago as a way for the airline to save money by reducing the amount of time it took for a plane to land, load new passengers, and take off again — turn time, as it is called in the business.

Most airlines assign each passenger to a seat when they buy a ticket. Southwest requires customers to check in exactly 24 hours before departure unless they pay extra to guarantee a better place in the boarding line. Those who hate it call it a “cattle call” but many Southwest loyalists love it.

However, as flights have become more full it has gotten harder to score a window or aisle seat without paying extra. Also, some passengers appear to game the system: They use a wheelchair to get to the gate, where they are given priority in boarding, then miraculously walk off the plane without assistance after the flight.

The airline said in surveys 80% of its customers — and 86% of “potential” customers — want an assigned seat. It said open seating is the top reason that travelers stop flying Southwest and choose another airline.

Southwest also said it will offer redeye flights for the first time.

Southwest said that its first overnight, redeye flights will land on Feb. 14, 2025, on nonstop routes including Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore. It plans to add more redeyes over time.

The changes in seating policy and redeye flights come as Southwest is under pressure from Elliott Investment Management. The hedge fund argues that the airline lags rivals in financial performance and has failed to change with the times. It wants to replace CEO Robert Jordan and Chairman Gary Kelly.

The airline said it will provide more details about its upcoming changes at an investor day in September.

Shares of all major airlines dipped before the opening bell Thursday. Southwest Airlines Co. fell 6% and American Airlines Group Inc. fell 7%. Delta, JetBlue and United slipped more than 1%.

AP

India Court Suspends Order To Restaurants To Display Owners' Names After Anti-Muslim Bias Concerns

India's top court ruled on Monday that restaurants cannot be forced to display the names of their owners, suspending police orders in two northern states that critics had said could foment discrimination against Muslims.

Police in the two states, both ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist party, gave oral orders in at least two districts requiring restaurants to put the names of their owners on display boards.

Police said this would help avoid disputes for thousands of Hindu pilgrims who travel on foot to sacred sites during a holy month, many of whom follow dietary restrictions, such as eating no meat during their journey.

But a Supreme Court bench ruled on Monday that while restaurants could be expected to state the type of food they serve, including whether it is vegetarian, they "must not be forced" to display the name and identities of owners.

The court suspended orders by police in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states and issued a notice to them seeking their response on petitions challenging the move.

More than a third of India's 1.4 billion people are estimated to be vegetarian - the world's largest percentage of people who don't eat meat or eggs - as they follow diets promoted by groups within Hinduism and other religions.

Some vegetarians choose not to eat in restaurants that also serve meat and don't rent out houses to meat-eating tenants.

A few allies of Modi and leaders of opposition parties had criticised the police orders, saying they feared they would deepen the communal divide and lead to Hindus avoiding restaurants employing Muslims.

Political foes accuse Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting India's roughly 200 million minority Muslims for electoral gains, which Modi and the BJP both deny.

"Such orders are social crimes, which want to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of harmony," opposition Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav had said in a post on X, criticising the police moves.

Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi and Saurabh Sharma Writing by Shivam Patel Editing by Peter Graff

Travelore Alert: US Urges People To Not Travel To Bangladesh Amid 'Civil Unrest'

The U.S. State Department said on Saturday it has raised Bangladesh's travel advisory to level four, which urges people to not travel to the Asian country due to what Washington described as "civil unrest" amid ongoing protests.

The State Department also said it authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members in Bangladesh. A day earlier, the department had urged people to reconsider travel to the country.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Massive protests have broken out in Bangladesh over student anger against quotas that set aside 30% of government jobs for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

Police have fired tear gas to scatter protesters in some areas while the government has banned public gatherings, imposed communications restrictions, deployed the army in some parts and imposed a curfew. Dozens have been killed in the past week.

"Travelers should not travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest in Dhaka. Demonstrations and violent clashes have been reported throughout the city of Dhaka, its neighboring areas, and throughout Bangladesh," the State Department said in a statement.

"Due to the security situation, there may be a delay in provision of routine consular services," it added.

The State Department also said that due to security concerns, U.S. Embassy personnel in Bangladesh are subject to some movement and travel restrictions, which could limit their ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh.

The United States and Canada have called on Bangladesh to uphold the right to peaceful protest and expressed concern, opens new tab over violence that has occurred in the country in recent days.

Students have protested over public sector job quotas, which include a 30% reservation for family members of fighters from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government would form a judicial committee to investigate the killings.

The quotas have caused anger among students who face high youth unemployment rates, with nearly 32 million young Bangladeshis not in work or education out of a total population of 170 million people.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft and Nick Zieminski, Reuters.

Spain Heats Up Under 1st Heatwave Of The Year As Southern Europe Swelters

Spain sweated under its first official heatwave of the year with temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees Celcius (104 Fahrenheit) in a large swathe of the country on Thursday, while Italy, Greece and other areas of southern Europe also struggled to stay cool.

After a relatively bearable spring compared to record heat in 2023 and 2022, millions of Spaniards will be sweltering at least through Saturday before feeling any relief. The nation’s weather authority said the only areas to be spared will be the northwest and northern Atlantic coasts.

Weather forecasters said a large mass of hot air travelling across the Mediterranean from northern Africa will settle over central and southern Spain. That, combined with the typical harsh summer sun, will make cities like the beautiful medieval cites of Sevilla, Toledo, and Granada bake.

The hottest area will be the southern Guadalquivir River basin where thermometers could reach 44C (111F). Six regions are under alerts for high temperatures.

2022 was the hottest year for Spain since it started keeping records in 1961. 2023 came in as the second hottest year. The first heatwave for last year arrived in June.

Authorities and experts agree that climate change is behind the rise in temperatures that is also feeding prolonged droughts and wildfires in the Mediterranean and other parts of the world.

In Spain, a heat wave is a minimum of three consecutive days during which at least 10% of weather stations register highs above the 95% percentile of average maximum temperatures for July and August.

Hot, dry winds scorched Greece, where a prolonged heatwave was at its peak on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures touched 43C (109F) in several parts of the country, while night-time temperatures in parts of Athens remained above 30C (86F) for the past 10 days.

Firefighters were fighting two large blazes on Thursday, one near a village on the outskirts of the northern city of Thessaloniki, and a brush fire on the island of Kea, near Athens. Emergency services ordered the evacuation of two areas on Kea, while local media said the fire near Thessaloniki had damaged several homes.

“We appeal to the public to be particularly careful as over the next few days there is a very high risk of the outbreak of serious wildfires,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “Even one spark can cause a major catastrophe.”

Italy put 14 cities put under the highest level of alert and temperatures are expected to climb above 40C, especially in the central and southern regions. The health ministry said it will further extend the red alert to 17 Italian cities on Friday, as the intense heat was forecast to continue until Sunday.

On Tuesday, Serbia’s state power company reported record consumption due to the use of air conditioning.

BY JOSEPH WILSON, AP

Greece Shuts Acropolis, 2 Firefighters Killed In Italy As Southern Europe Swelters In A Heat Wave

A heat wave across southern Europe forced authorities in Greece to close the Acropolis Wednesday for several hours and two firefighters died while putting out a fire in the Basilicata region in southern Italy, Italian authorities said.

Italy added Palermo, Sicily, to the list of 13 cities in the country with a severe heat warning. Elderly people in the city of Verona were urged to stay indoors, while sprinklers were set up to cool passersby.

Greece’s Culture Ministry ordered the closure of the Acropolis — the country’s biggest cultural attraction — from midday for five hours.

Tourists hoping to visit the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis queued early in the morning to beat the worst of the heat, while the Red Cross handed chilled bottled water and information fliers to those waiting in line.

“We got it done and got out quick, and now we’re going to some air conditions and some more libation and enjoy the day,” said Toby Dunlap, who was visiting from Pennsylvania and had just toured the Acropolis. “But it’s hot up there, it really is. If you don’t come prepared, you’re going to sweat.”

Meteorologists said the hot air from Africa was forecast to continue through Sunday, with heat wave temperatures expected to peak at 43 degrees C (109 F).

In Albania, the heat led the government to reschedule working hours for civil servants, making it easier for some to work from home. Neighboring North Macedonia struggled with dozens of wildfires that had broken out in the previous 24 hours. One major blaze stretched across nearly 30 kilometers (21 miles). Firefighting aircraft from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania and Turkey responded to the country’s call for assistance.

In western Turkey, firefighters — aided by more than a dozen water-dropping aircraft — managed to bring a wildfire near the town of Bergama under control several hours after it ignited. The cause of the blaze, which was fanned by strong winds, was not immediately known.

The municipality of Turkey’s largest city Istanbul issued a heat warning on Tuesday, saying temperatures would rise between 3-6 degrees C (5.4-10.8 degrees F) above seasonal norms until July 28.

Several Spanish cities, including Granada and Toledo, are bracing for temperatures as high as 44 degrees C (111 F) forecast for later in the week in the country’s hottest spots in the south.

BY ELENA BECATOROS AND COLLEEN BARRY, AP

Ballyfin Ranked #1 Resort Hotel In The United Kingdom And Ireland

Ballyfin, a five-star historic country house hotel, is named the No. 1 Resort Hotel in the U.K. and Ireland based on the results of the 2024 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. This recognition is a testament to Ballyfin’s commitment to providing exceptional service, breathtaking surroundings, and an unparalleled guest experience.

Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards is an annual survey that recognizes excellence in the travel industry, showcasing the top hotels, resorts, destinations, and airlines in the world ranked by the most passionate and discerning travelers. These awards serve as a trusted source for inspiration and guidance as travelers make plans to set out on trips around the globe.

“Ballyfin has been welcoming guests since 2011, and the recognition from Travel + Leisure readers since that date has been exceptional. To receive this outstanding award is a testament to the dedicated team at Ballyfin. I thank them for their hard work and our wonderful guests for sharing their appreciation for the experience we deliver. We are humbled and forever grateful,” said Peter White, General Manager.

The 2024 World’s Best Awards are featured in the August 2024 issue of Travel + Leisure.

About BALLYFIN – County Laois, Ireland

Ballyfin is a five-star country house hotel set on 614 private acres at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the center of Ireland. Long admired as one of the most lavish Regency mansions in the country, the historic estate reopened in May 2011 following an extensive eight-year restoration.

A member of Relais & Chateaux, the property features 21 individually designed rooms, lavish interiors decorated with Irish art and antiques, and rolling grounds including a 28-acre lake, ancient woods, follies and grottoes. Guests enjoy gourmet dining, an indoor pool and spa, and quintessential country activities such as fishing, horseback riding, clay pigeon shooting, archery, falconry and more.

​Perfect for couples, families and friends, Ballyfin provides an enchanting retreat from the modern age, immersing guests in old world luxury, romance, privacy and tranquility.

http://www.ballyfin.com/

Norwegian Cruise Line® Announces Port Of Philadelphia As A New Homeport With Its 2026 Spring/Summer Season

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), an innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of breaking boundaries, today announced its 2026 spring/summer itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, and Canada and New England, as well as a new season of voyages from the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) for the first time in many years.

On April 16, 2026, Norwegian Jewel® will commence seven-to-nine-day cruises to Bermuda, launching the city as a new cruise destination. Departing from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex, where plans are currently underway with the local government to develop a facility to welcome cruisers in 2026, Norwegian Jewel's Bermuda itineraries will feature overnight calls to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, providing guests more time to enjoy and discover the island's turquoise blue waters and pink-sand beaches. This new homeport for NCL will provide residents in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region more access to cruising, as it will be the only cruise line sailing from Philadelphia through Oct. 17, 2026.

"We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region."

"The Port of Philadelphia is extremely excited to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the world's premier cruise lines," said Jeff Theobald, executive director and CEO of PhilaPort. "Philadelphia has so much to offer, as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation's history, we look forward to connecting cruisers with our world class city. This new service rounds out the portfolio of services offered at PhilaPort, and we look forward to this next phase of growth."

The Company's new 2026 spring/summer season includes nearly 250 itineraries for nine of its soon-to-be 20 ships. Embarking from U.S. and Canadian ports between April and November 2026, these voyages will call to 30 unique destinations across the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Canada and New England, as well as Alaska. With an average of 10 hours in port, guests can choose to enjoy the picture-perfect beaches, colorful cities and vibrant culture of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda; enjoy the rustic fall foliage of Canada and New England; or dive deep into the pristine nature and abundant wilderness found in Alaska.

Herrera continued, "Our new 2026 spring/summer deployment further meets the vacation demands of our guests with more shorter cruise offerings to fun-in-the-sun destinations, such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean, as well as a variety of longer itineraries to bucket-list destinations, such as Alaska."

Itinerary highlights from NCL's spring/summer 2026 deployment include:

NEW BERMUDA, CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND HOMEPORTS AND ITINERARIES

Following Norwegian Jewel's first-ever season of Bermuda voyages from Philadelphia from April 16, 2026 to Aug. 27, 2026, it will sail immersive 10- and 11-day Canada and New England itineraries, alternating embarkation ports between Philadelphia and Québec City. Guests will enjoy quainter ports in the region like Saguenay, Charlottetown and Halifax, Canada in addition to well-known ports, such as Bar Harbor, Maine and Boston.

On April 19, 2026, Norwegian Breakaway® will become the largest NCL vessel to offer regular turnarounds in Boston with seven-day Bermuda voyages through November. Throughout the peak summer season, voyages will feature an overnight stay at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda and a day in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of the highest-rated ports in Northeast Canada. From late August through mid-October 2026, the ship will embark on seven-day Canada and New England itineraries calling to the most picturesque ports, including Bar Harbor, Maine, as well as Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Moreover, Norwegian Aqua, will return to New York City for its second Bermuda season sailing a selection of five- and-seven-day itineraries with overnight stays at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda.

LONGER CONTINUOUS BAHAMAS SEASON

Due to popular guest demand, NCL is expanding its short-cruise offering with nearly 40 voyages to the Bahamas from Miami in spring/summer 2026 aboard Norwegian Getaway® for a continuous season of cruises to the island-chain nation. The three- to four-night cruises will visit Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, the cruise line's private island and best guest-rated port in the region. As of late 2025, it will feature a newly constructed multi-ship pier, enhancing the overall guest experience to this exclusive destination.

CRUISE TO THE CARIBBEAN ABOARD ONE OF NCL'S NEWEST VESSELS

Norwegian Prima's sprawling outdoor space allows for some of the best island-hopping itineraries in the Caribbean. The ship will extend its season in Port Canaveral, Fla. and sail seven-day sailings to Eastern and Western Caribbean, visiting the most sought-after ports in the region, including Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Cayman Islands and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. For an extended vacation in the tropics, guests can book back-to-back sailings to create a 14-day voyage to maximize their fun-in-the-sun experience.

THE YOUNGEST FLEET IN ALASKA

Alaska remains a bucket-list destination for travelers and explorers worldwide with its rugged coastal landscapes, majestic glaciers, and local marine wildlife on display. The 2026 season will commence in late April and deliver breathtaking voyages through October from Seattle; Whittier, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests can enjoy a variety of experiences with some of the newest ships in the region, Norwegian Encore®, Norwegian Bliss® and Norwegian Joy®, all of which feature unmatched onboard activities, including the industry's only racetracks at sea. Custom-built for the Alaska experience, these ships feature expansive outdoor and indoor spaces to marvel at the iconic beauty of the destination. Embarking from Seattle's Pier 66, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss will sail seven-day voyages, while Norwegian Joy will offer longer and more immersive nine- to 10-day itineraries.

Norwegian Jade® will cruise a series of seven-day open-jaw sailings between Vancouver, British Columbia and the new-to-NCL homeport Whittier, Alaska with no days at sea. Guests aiming to immerse themselves even more in "The Last Frontier" can add a NCL Cruisetour to their reservation, and explore the interior of Alaska, take a ride on the narrow tracks of the Alaska Railroad or fish halibut and salmon in the cold waters of Kachemak Bay.

In addition to the newly opened spring/summer 2026 deployment, NCL cruises to more than 450 destinations worldwide giving guests the chance to plan and book their upcoming cruise vacation well in advance.

For more information about the Company's award-winning 19-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Unveils Landmark Exhibition David Smith: The Nature Of Sculpture Opening September 23, 2024

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to announce the groundbreaking exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture, showcasing the prolific and inventive work of David Smith (1906–1965). This landmark exhibition, the first to explore Smith's deep engagement with nature, will open on September 23, 2024, and will be on view through March 2, 2025.

The art of David Smith is profuse and marvelously inventive. Working in multiple media, formats, and scales, he blurred boundaries between painting and sculpture and between traditional genres such as landscape and figuration. Smith's bountiful oeuvre has secured him a firm place within art history and his adventurous approach to three-dimensional form has permanently expanded the vocabulary and range of sculptural practice.

Smith is widely hailed as the first American artist to make welded metal sculpture and to absorb industrial methods and materials into his creative repertoire. His inventiveness and contributions to sculptural practice extend far beyond machine vernacular and technique, however. Indeed, many have traced the origins of modern sculpture parks to Smith's unprecedented outdoor installations on his Bolton Landing property in upstate New York. For Smith, nature was not only a source of inspiration but also served as studio, accomplice and staging ground for his complex sculptural works.

"While David Smith is recognized as the most important sculptor of the 20th century, there is still much to be learned about his expansive art, especially as it relates to the natural world," says exhibition curator Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs at Meijer Gardens. "We are excited to reveal this crucial and lesser-known aspect of Smith's career at Meijer Gardens, where sculpture and nature are so intimately bound."

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will feature a selection of some 40 sculptures, alongside related paintings, reliefs, and works on paper, providing an in-depth exploration of Smith's sustaining connection with nature. Uniting key loans from major lenders—including The Whitney Museum of American Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and Storm King Art Center—the exhibition will be arranged in loose chronological order, beginning with Smith's earliest sculptures from 1932 to the year before his accidental death in 1965.

Viewers will encounter nature-based work from every decade of Smith's career, including:

1930s constructions with stones, shells, coral, and wood, along with biomorphic cast metal sculptures.

1940s and 1950s pictorial sculpture landscapes, a genre of Smith's own invention, which he enlisted to address an array of themes—from autobiography, House in a Landscape and his epic Hudson River Landscape; to color theory,
Helmholtzian Landscape; to social norms, Cloistral Landscape.

Mid-1950s bronze reliefs depicting botanic motifs such as Rose Garden, Wild Plums, and Skull and Tree.

Late 1950s and early 1960s avian sculptures, including a series focused on ravens.

A selection of outdoor works that find their completion in the company of sky, wind and earth, as Smith intended.

This exhibition will have a particularly strong resonance at Meijer Gardens, where Smith's work will be in direct dialogue with the natural environment, including larger pieces situated out of doors. Do not miss this eye-opening exhibition, exclusively in Grand Rapids, and come witness David Smith's thrilling sculptural translations of the natural world he knew and loved.

For more information, please visit: MeijerGardens.org/DavidSmith

Travelore News: German Railways Shuts Main Line For Five Months For Infrastructure Revamp

Germany's state railways will on Monday close for five months a main line connecting the financial centre of Frankfurt with the south to carry out a 1.3 billion euro ($1.4 billion) upgrade to creaking infrastructure.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Tracks between Frankfurt and Mannheim are congested, and delays can have a major impact elsewhere in Germany's 33,000-kilometre (20,000-mile) network, as well as on trains to neighbouring countries like Switzerland and France.

The state of German railways has been in the international spotlight during the Euro 2024 soccer tournament, with fans complaining of crowded trains and travel disruptions.

CONTEXT

While rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL) has bought hundreds more modern high-speed ICE trains in recent years, many tracks, signal boxes and other infrastructure need repairs or upgrades. In June, just over half of all long-distance trains were on time, according to Deutsche Bahn statistics. In reality, more connections are affected because the company classifies a train as delayed if it is at least six minutes late. Cancelled connections are not counted.

BY THE NUMBERS

Deutsche Bahn's planned investment of 1.3 billion euros in this project is up from an initial estimate of 500 million euros.

Over the next five months, it will rebuild 140 kilometres of tracks and overhead wires, improve 20 stations and replace more than 150 switches.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Deutsche Bahn hopes disruptions on its overhauled main lines will decline by 80%. In total, the company plans to renovate 40 rail corridors to stabilise the system.
'
The next major renovation is scheduled for next year between Berlin and Hamburg, Germany's most populous cities.

($1 = 0.9233 euros)

Reporting by Markus Wacket and Thomas Seythal, Editing by Miranda Murray and Mark Potter

Venice Nets $2.2 Million In Day-Tripper Tax Pilot. Opponents Say It Failed To Deter Visitors

Venice on Sunday wrapped up a pilot program charging day-trippers an entrance fee, more than 2 million euros ($2.2 million) richer and determined to extend the levy, but opponents in the fragile lagoon city called the experiment a failure.

Several dozen activists gathered outside the Santa Lucia train station overlooking a teeming canal on Saturday to protest the 5-euro ($5.45) levy that they say did little to dissuade visitors from arriving on peak days, as envisioned.

“The ticket is a failure, as demonstrated by city data,” said Giovanni Andrea Martini, an opposition city council member.

Over the first 11 days of the trial period, an average of 75,000 visitors were recorded in the city. Martini said that is 10,000 more each day than on three indicative holidays in 2023, citing figures provided by the city based on cell phone data that tracks arrivals in the city.

Venice imposed the long-discussed day-tripper tax on 29 days this year, mostly weekends and holidays, from April 25 through mid-July. The project, delayed by the pandemic, was heralded by UNESCO member states when they decided against a recommendation to place the city on its list of world heritage sites in danger.

Over the last 2 1/2 months, nearly 450,000 tourists have paid the tax, raising revenues of some 2.2 million euros ($2.4 million), according to AP calculations based on data supplied by the city. Officials said the money would be used for essential services, which cost more in a city traversed by canals, including trash removal and maintenance.

The levy was not applied to people staying in hotels in Venice, who are already charged a lodging tax. Exemptions also applied to children under 14, residents of the region, students, workers and people visiting relatives, among others.

The city’s top tourism official, Simone Venturini, has indicated that the levy will be continued and reinforced. A proposal to double the fee to 10 euros is being considered for next year, a city spokesman said.

Officials promised steep fines for scofflaws, but in the end none was given during checks at entry points, which varied from a low of 8,500 to a high 20,800 a day over the period. City officials say that is because they wanted a soft launch. Critics say it resulted in a downward trend in payments as visitors understood there was no risk in avoiding the payment.

Opponents of the plan say it failed to make the city more liveable for residents, as intended, with the narrow walkways and water taxis as crowded as ever. They want policies that encourage repopulation of Venice’s historic center, which has been losing residents to the more convenient mainland for decades, including placing limits on short-term rentals.

There are now more tourist beds in the canaled historic center than official residents, whose numbers stand at an all-time low of 50,000.

“Wanting to raise this to 10 euros, is absolute useless. It makes Venice a museum,” Martini, the city council member, said.

Many of the banners at Saturday’s protest also indicated growing concern about the system of electronic and video surveillance that the city introduced in 2020 to monitor cell phone data of people arriving in the city, which is the backbone of the system to control tourism. Placards included warnings about use of personal data and a lack of data privacy.

“The access ticket is a great distraction for the media, which only speaks about this 5 euros, which will become 10 euros next year,’’ said Giovanni Di Vito, a Venice resident active in the campaign against the tourist tax. “But no one is focusing on the system for surveillance and control of citizens.”

BY COLLEEN BARRY

Regent Hong Kong Named #1 Hong Kong City Hotel At The 2024 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards

In the 2024 edition of the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards readers' survey, Regent Hong Kong has just been named the #1 Hong Kong City Hotel, #2 among the 20 Favourite City Hotels in Asia, and #7 among the 100 Hotels Voted Best in the World.

As per Regent Hong Kong Managing Director Michel Chertouh, "From serene interiors that juxtapose unrivalled cinematic views of Victoria Harbour to exceptional dining experiences, Regent Hong Kong is a rare gem on Victoria Harbour. However, what truly sets us apart is the highly personalised service "on your terms" and our unwavering commitment to quality and consistency. This accolade reflects the hard work and dedication of our colleagues, who consistently strive to create highly personalised experiences that create lasting memories for our guests. We thank our loyal guests and the travel community for enthusiastically embracing the new Regent Hong Kong and bestowing our hotel with this highly coveted award."

In 2024, Regent Hong Kong was named the Best Hong Kong Hotel at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024 and a Travellers' Choice Awards Winner by TripAdvisor. In addition to receiving a coveted spot on Condé Nast Traveler's prestigious 2024 Hot List and Travel + Leisure's 2024 It List, as one of the Best New Hotels and Best New City Hotels in the world, regionally, Regent Hong Kong was named the Best Business Hotel in Hong Kong at the 2024 TTG China Travel Awards and also received the Best Design Hotel accolade at the 2024 The Bund Design Hotel Awards. Additionally, the newly relaunched Presidential Suite has been named one of Elite Traveler's Top New Hotel Suites.

Regent Hong Kong also received numerous awards as a celebrated Dining Destination. The hotel's signature Cantonese restaurant, Lai Ching Heen, has retained two MICHELIN Stars and two Diamonds in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide for numerous years. The Steak House, a MICHELIN recommended restaurant, has recently been named one of the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants. Meanwhile Qura Bar was named the Best Restaurant Bar in Hong Kong by Time Out.

Holland America Line Introduces New 'Grand Voyage' Entertainment With 15 Production Shows Starting In 2025

Holland America Line is introducing a new slate of shows that will anchor the entertainment on Grand Voyages, starting with the 2025 Grand World Voyage and Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole. When the two cruises depart in January 2025 on simultaneous sailings, 15 new shows will make their debut on both ships throughout the monthslong, globetrotting journeys.

Developed by acclaimed producer Blackburn International, each Grand Voyage will feature a cast of eight accomplished singers and dancers who will perform in the 15 new productions. Each show will feature a distinct theme, including tributes to pop and rock greats like Carole King, the Carpenters, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and more. With titles such as "The Sounds of Summer," "Solid Gold" and "Crossroads," Holland America Line will offer a variety of performances over the duration of each cruise.

"Holland America Line has never introduced this many shows at one time," said Bill Prince, vice president of entertainment for Holland America Line. "The Grand Voyages are the longest itineraries we offer and it's important to keep the entertainment fresh for our returning guests. The new shows are a diverse collection of music genres to appeal to a wide variety of tastes."

A Grand Onboard Experience

The 15 new shows will join an already robust entertainment and enrichment program on the Grand Voyages. Comedians, headline entertainers, and performers sourced locally are mixed in with Holland America Line's production shows and resident musicians, including a classical trio and dance band on both ships.

Guest chefs who specialize in the cuisine of the region where the ship is sailing will join select segments of each Grand Voyage to share their culinary expertise. The chefs will offer a live cooking demonstration for guests, participate in an informative "coffee chat" and their cuisine will be featured at an exclusive, reservation-only dinner at Pinnacle Grill. Signature appetizers and main dishes from the guest chefs also will be highlighted on the Dining Room menu while they are on board.

Guests can expand their horizons with enriching activities on a Grand Voyage, including dance classes like ballroom or beginners' ballet; arts and crafts classes that include watercolor painting, origami and creative writing; pickleball lessons from the ship's sports director; tai chi on deck and more.

Dining is elevated on each Grand Voyage with menus that change daily and are seldom repeated, featuring local ingredients and regional cuisine. Select theme parties, such as the Masquerade, have a matching dinner menu in the Dining Room to elevate the festivities. Brunch on sea days in the Dining Room is a grand affair, with an extensive roster of rotating menus featuring regionally focused dishes, as well as tasting menus so guests can sample a variety of brunch favorites. Festive gala balls and dressy nights create memorable moments, along with a Captain's Grand Voyage Dinner.

Grand Voyage Ships to Meet in Barcelona

In 2025, Zuiderdam will sail the 124-day Grand World Voyage, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship departs Jan. 4, 2025, and will circle the globe on a westwardly route, visiting 49 total ports in 30 countries across six continents. Volendam sails the 133-day Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole, also roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. The ship departs Jan. 25 and follows a south-north-south route, down the coast of South America to Antarctica and then up to the Arctic, visiting 69 total ports across five continents and 26 countries.

During the Grand Voyages, Zuiderdam and Volendam will rendezvous April 24 in Barcelona, Spain. The historic meetup will be commemorated with a Catalan-themed dinner on each ship and parties on deck, and guest reunion opportunities will be available as the ships overnight in port.

Shorter Grand Voyage Segments Available for Booking

Segments on each Grand Voyage make taking a smaller portion of each itinerary possible. The Grand World Voyage has six segment options:

37 days, Fort Lauderdale to Sydney, Australia, Jan. 4 – Feb. 11, 2025.

55 days, Fort Lauderdale to Singapore, Jan. 4 – March 1, 2025.

42 days, Sydney to Cape Town, South Africa, Feb. 11 – March 25, 2025.

49 days, Singapore to Athens, Greece, March 1 – April 19, 2025.

45 days, Cape Town to Fort Lauderdale, March 25 – May 9, 2025.

20 days, Athens to Fort Lauderdale, April 19 – May 9, 2025.

The Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole has seven segments for guests to choose from:

47 days, Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jan. 25 – March 13, 2025.

100 days, Fort Lauderdale to Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), the Netherlands, Jan. 25 – May 5, 2025.

42 days, Buenos Aires to Barcelona, March 13 – April 24, 2025.

53 days, Buenos Aires to Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), March 13 – May 5, 2025.

86 days, Buenos Aires to Fort Lauderdale, March 13 – June 7, 2025.

44 days, Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, April 24 – June 7, 2025.

33 days, Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) to Fort Lauderdale, May 5 – June 7, 2025.

Cruise fares for the full 124-day Grand World Voyage begin at $27,354; segment fares begin at $4,529. Cruise fares for the full 133-day Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole begin at $31,199; segment fares begin at $8,029. All fares are based on double occupancy rates and include port fees and taxes.

Grand Voyage Early Booking Bonus

Guests who book the full 133-day Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole or 124-day Grand World Voyage by Aug. 19, 2024, receive onboard spending credits and amenities valued at up to $8,800 or $8,500 respectively, per person. New perks for all guests who book early feature a free Surf Wi-Fi package, a $500 air credit per person if booked through Flight Ease and free roundtrip airport transfers. Additional extras can include free luggage delivery service to and from the Fort Lauderdale airport, prepaid crew appreciation and laundry/drycleaning service when booking certain stateroom categories.

Guests who book segments of either the Grand World Voyage or Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole by Aug. 19, 2024, also receive perks with the Early Booking Bonus: an onboard credit up to $1,000 per stateroom, free Surf Wi-Fi package and free laundry/dry cleaning (when booking certain stateroom categories), as well as an additional discount for Mariners who have sailed on previous Grand Voyages.

Grand World Voyage Wins Wave Award

Solidifying Holland America Line's position as a leader in world cruising, the cruise line recently won "Best World Cruise" at the 2024 TravelAge West Wave Awards. Selected by the publication's editorial team and then voted on by travel advisors throughout the United States, the Wave Award win affirms Holland America Line's commitment to crafting an immersive world cruise itinerary and delivering a memorable experience. For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts And SOL Properties To Debut Fairmont Residences Solara Tower Dubai

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a world-renowned luxury hotel brand within the Accor group, has partnered with SOL Properties, a leading developer in the UAE, to launch a standout private residence development, Fairmont Residences Solara Tower Dubai. Redefining luxury real estate in Downtown Dubai, the project is currently underway and is scheduled for completion by Q3 of 2027.

Fairmont Residences Solara Tower Dubai combines Fairmont's distinguished brand standards and global reputation in luxury hospitality with SOL Properties' vast expertise in luxury real estate to establish new benchmarks in upscale urban living. The development will include meticulously designed spaces, blending elegance and timeless opulence. With a wide array of spacious layouts and custom amenities, these residences represent the pinnacle of luxury lifestyle for today and tomorrow, with expansive terraces offering breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa and the exquisite Dubai Fountain.

Ajay Bhatia, Founder and CEO of SOL Properties, said: "Alongside the team at Fairmont, we at SOL Properties are elated to provide a completely new standard of luxury living in Downtown Dubai. Our goal is to provide residents with exclusive amenities and personalised offerings, thereby setting a new precedent for comfort and convenience for our owners. By combining Fairmont's exceptional hospitality and thoughtful service with our integrated residential environment and attention to quality, this project is certain to offer residents unmatched lifestyle experiences."

In response to the evolving demands of urban homeowners, the residential project promises a suite of premium amenities and services. Residence owners will have exclusive access to Fairmont's wide range of integrated amenities, which include gourmet restaurants, private swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and wellness centre, offering a resort-like experience within the confines of their own home.
Omer Acar, CEO for Fairmont, commented: "We are delighted to continue bringing the Fairmont experience around the globe. Drawing on both Accor and Fairmont's long history and notable expertise in managing luxury branded residential, and working with leading developers and partners such as SOL Properties, we are able to deliver a living experience that is poised to truly redefine luxury residential in an already competitive market such as Dubai, or in other top destinations worldwide."

The project exemplifies the ongoing expansion and appeal of luxury living in Dubai, with the luxury residential real estate market projected to grow by more than 8 percent by 2029. Opening as the premiere luxury real estate in Downtown Dubai, Faimont Solara Tower reinforces Dubai's demand as a global destination, attracting high-net-worth individuals and investors seeking to diversify their portfolios with the city's strategic location and investor-friendly regulations.

Fairmont Residences Solara Tower Dubai joins a portfolio of 16 Fairmont-branded residences, each a sanctuary with the luxury of Fairmont and the privacy of home, from Mayakoba in Mexico, Rabat and Marrakech in Morocco, to Los Angeles in the USA. Globally renowned for the brand's expertise in luxury residential, Fairmont has another 22 projects in the pipeline. The project is supported by Accor One Living, an industry-first platform focused on the design and operation of innovative mixed-use hospitality solutions for a new generation of investors and homeowners.

Jeff Tisdall, Chief Business Officer, Accor One Living, said: "We are very proud to be partnering with SOL Properties on this landmark Fairmont branded residence development, a leading example of an exciting new generation of standalone private residences supported by Accor One Living. We are confident the ultra prime location, extensive private facilities for residence owners, and elevated residential living experience made possible by Fairmont, combined with SOL Properties' reputation for quality and luxury, will be very well received by homeowners."

About Fairmont

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where the intimate equally coexists with the infinite – an unrivaled portfolio of more than 90 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. Since 1907, Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – places such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,600 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. fairmont.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

About SOL Properties

Founded in 1974 under the patronage of the Bhatia Group, SOL Properties is a distinguished leader in the UAE's real estate sector, renowned for its luxury property developments. Over the past 50 years, SOL Properties has delivered over 250 transformative projects, encompassing exquisite residential developments, iconic commercial spaces, and luxury hotels. The company's diverse portfolio includes iconic projects across Dubai, such as Ocean House, Oakley Square, Hillside Villas, SOL Bay, and hospitality projects like The Dubai Edition, Downtown Dubai, and Radisson Beach Resort, Palm Jumeirah. SOL Properties' dedication to innovation and excellence shines through in every project, as they blend creative ingenuity with architectural brilliance to redefine luxury living and working environments. For more information, visit www.solproperties.ae

SOURCE Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

New York City Is Getting Its First Ever 'Soccer' Stadium, Opening In 2027

New York City is getting its first-ever soccer-specific stadium, but with a housing crisis and dozens of already established sports venues (not to mention you can’t swing a cat) how have they pulled this off?

An aerial CGI shot of New York City's new stadium in Queens, New York (Image credit: New York City FC)

It could easily be the name of a Netflix docu-series your work colleagues won’t shut up about, but the ‘Valley of Ashes’ is an epithet for the plot of land where New York City’s first purpose-built soccer stadium will open in 2027.

The moniker was coined exactly 100 years ago by F Scott Fitzgerald in his novel ‘The Great Gatsby’. It’s a fictional name for a real-life refuse dump at Willets Point. ‘Valley of Ashes’ lends more colour than ‘Willets Point’ and in the book the area represents a byproduct of industrialisation which made protagonist Jay Gatsby’s booming lifestyle possible.

In 2024 a well-struck baseball could theoretically land here from Citi Field next door. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open, is within walking distance. “It's an area that has been so desolate for a very long time,” explains Jen O’Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer at New York City FC. “If you grew up in this area, you knew it as the place to go if you lost the hubcaps on your car – it was just full of these ‘chop shops’ and auto body shops and not much else.

“With The Mets, the Tennis Centre, and UBS arena [home of the New York Islanders ice hockey team] not too far away, there becomes this sort of this sports hub if you will. Two major airports are also here. So it's just a tremendous location for so many reasons.”

As of 2011 the area had a population of just 10, there are no paved roads, no proper sewage system, and after several false starts (New York Mets owner initially pushed to build a casino on the land) City Council members voted 47-1 to proceed with plans for a soccer stadium in April.

At the heart of the push was Councilmember Francisco Moya. “I'm Ecuadorian,” he explains, “I'm born with a soccer ball in my crib, that's how real the passion for the sport of football is in my household and a lot of Latino households in Queens.”

Behind Moya hangs a picture of him taken at the Nou Camp with his father. “I go to the Clasico every year, I haven’t missed once since 2007, plus two Champions League finals, in London and Berlin.”

Moya was born in Corona, Queens and has served the district on the New York City Council since 2018. “When I got into office the vision I had was to develop something special. If you walk the streets of my neighbourhood, you're going see people wearing their favourite team’s jersey or the jersey of their home country. TVs are all filled with soccer.

Having the opportunity to bring a soccer-specific stadium, not just to Queens, but to the neighbourhood I grew up in is pretty incredible

Francisco Moya

"Having the opportunity to bring a soccer-specific stadium, not just to Queens, but to the neighbourhood I grew up in is pretty incredible. I have to give it up to New York City Football Club who are going to privately finance the construction [$800m]. We're also going to bring in over 14,000 union jobs [during construction], and over 1,500 permanent jobs after that.

"We’re bringing in 2,500 units of affordable housing, a brand new school, retail – turning the so-called ‘Valley of Ashes’ into a beautiful neighbourhood, community and place of gathering.”

Moya emphasises this isn’t just about soccer, but about building an “economic engine” that can keep a community like this thriving. “It's taken close to 10 years of my career trying to make this come to fruition.” New York City mayor Eric Adams described it as “the goal of the decade”.

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/author/matthew-ketchell

American Airlines Submits Application To U.S. Department Of Transportation To Serve San Antonio International Airport From Washington Reagan National

American today formally submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate daily, nonstop service between San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). The 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill was signed into law in May, awarding five new roundtrip flights serving DCA.

The city of San Antonio is the fastest-growing city in the United States and is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the country. It is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA, which is the most convenient airport for travelers visiting Washington, D.C.

American’s proposed service between SAT and DCA will complement the carrier’s more than 25 daily departures from SAT to seven cities across the U.S. In addition to offering convenient nonstop connectivity between San Antonio and the nation’s capital, American will offer one-stop connections via DCA to destinations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Canada.

“American is proud to submit an application to provide the only nonstop service between San Antonio and Washington, D.C.,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “This new service will expand American’s industry-leading domestic network connecting customers to the places they want to visit most.”

“Adding a nonstop route to Reagan National Airport is part of our efforts to expand air operations for the San Antonio region,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the San Antonio Airport System. “We’re grateful to American Airlines for their shared vision to improve connectivity and for helping us elevate our service options with a route that will be especially beneficial to our business and military communities. This is yet another step in our commitment to modernize our airport and improve the traveler experience.”

“We have a historic opportunity to increase San Antonio’s access to the nation’s capital, which is particularly important for the members of our military community who rely on air connectivity for operational needs,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Nonstop access to the nation's capital will strengthen our economic ties with leaders in Washington, D.C. and enable greater collaboration with the Pentagon, other federal agencies and leading research institutions. We are grateful to American Airlines for partnering with us to establish this nonstop route that will greatly enhance our city's prosperity.”

For the only nonstop between SAT and DCA, American will use special flight numbers to commemorate the city’s rich history and significant military contributions. Flight 1718 recognizes the year San Antonio was founded and Flight 1947 celebrates the year the U.S. Air Force was established. American’s proposed operation is as follows:

Flight Departure Airport Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time Aircraft Type

1718 SAT 6:35 a.m. DCA 10:59 a.m. Airbus A321

1947 DCA 7:45 p.m. SAT 10:20 p.m. Airbus A321

American is prepared to support appropriate schedule adjustments that allow for the safe and efficient integration of its SAT-DCA service into operations at DCA and the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan area airspace.

American’s application to DOT includes more than 150 letters of support from the San Antonio community, including bipartisan policymakers, mayors, military organizations, chambers of commerce, advocacy organizations and nonprofits from across the region to express their strong support of the potential SAT-DCA route.

“American’s commitment to delivering the City of San Antonio a direct flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport represents an important step not just for the residents of Military City USA, but the entire Lone Star State,” said Sen. Ted Cruz. “I am proud to have led the fight to help deliver the five long-haul slots that we included in this year’s FAA reauthorization bill, and I will continue to press the U.S. Department of Transportation to quickly approve American's application for the San Antonio route.”
“San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the country, and last year, more people moved to San Antonio than any other city in the U.S.,” said Sen. John Cornyn. “After years of hard work from the Texas delegation in Congress and many leaders in Military City, USA, nonstop flights between San Antonio, Texas, and Washington, D.C., could be on the horizon, and I look forward to seeing American Airlines serve this route for visitors, businesses and our military.”

“In May, I was proud to be part of the effort to authorize more direct flights into Washington D.C. and open the door for a nonstop flight from San Antonio,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “American’s proposed direct flight will make travel easier for thousands of military, business and leisure travelers and attract new jobs for our talented workforce. San Antonio is a world-class city, and a decision by the FAA to approve this direct flight to our nation’s capital would be an important step for our city’s growth.”

“San Antonio is home to 82,000 active-duty military and civilian support personnel, tens of thousands of veterans and is the seventh-largest city in the U.S.,” said Congressman Chip Roy. “American’s partnership with San Antonio International is valuable to the people of our community and the ability for Texans to access a direct flight to our nation's capital.”

About American Airlines Group

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Air Travel Is Getting Worse. That’s What Passengers Are Telling The US Government

Air travel got more miserable last year, if the number of consumer complaints filed with the U.S. government is any measure.

The Transportation Department said Friday that it received nearly 97,000 complaints in 2023, up from about 86,000 the year before. The department said there were so many complaints that it took until July to sort through the filings and compile the figures.

That’s the highest number of consumer complaints about airlines since 2020, when airlines were slow to give customers refunds after the coronavirus pandemic shut down air travel.

The increase in complaints came even as airlines canceled far fewer U.S. flights — 116,700, or 1.2% of the total, last year, compared with about 210,500, or 2.3%, in 2022, according to FlightAware data. However, delays remained stubbornly high last year, at around 21% of all flights.

So far this year, cancellations remain relatively low — about 1.3% of all flights — but delays are still running around 21%.

More than two-thirds of all complaints last year dealt with U.S. airlines, but a quarter covered foreign airlines. Most of the rest were about travel agents and tour operators.

Complaints about treating passengers with disabilities rose by more than one-fourth compared with 2022. Complaints of discrimination, while small in number, also rose sharply. Most were about race or national origin.

The Transportation Department said the increase in complaints was partly the result of more consumers knowing about their rights and the ability to file a complaint. The department said it helped Southwest Airlines customers get more than $600 million in refunds and reimbursements after the carrier canceled nearly 17,000 flights during December 2022. Southwest also paid a $35 million fine.

Airlines receive many more complaints from travelers who don’t know how or don’t bother to complain to the government, but the carriers don’t release those numbers.

The Transportation Department is modernizing its complaint-taking system, which the agency says will help it do a better job overseeing the airline industry. However, the department now releases complaint numbers many months late. It did not issue figures for the second half of 2023 until Friday.

The Transportation Department’s online complaint form is at https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint

AP